Introduction: The sellar and parasellar region is an anatomically complex area and the complexity of structures that define this region can produce a variety of neoplastic processes. A multimodal approach for the diagnosis and treatment of the same is frequently necessary. Materials and methods: A total of 60 patients with radiologically confirmed diagnosis of sellar region tumor were included in the study and were assessed in terms of age and sex distribution, location, type, clinical features, treatment approach and complications. Results: Characteristics of a total of 60 patients with sellar tumors were assessed in the study out of which 30 were in the age group of 21 to 40 yrs, followed by 24 patients in age group of 41 and above. Among 60 patients in the study group, 36 patients presented with visual symptoms, 56 with neurological symptoms and 20 patients had hormonal symptoms. Pituitary adenoma was the commonest lesion seen in 44 out of 60 patients. Surgical treatment was offered to all patients and 52 patients out of 60 underwent a transnasal transsphenoidal resection of tumor whereas 6 patients had to undergo microscopic resection and 2 patients had their tumor resected through an open approach. Discussion: Age distribution among 60 patients showed that majority of the cases with sellar tumors were in age group of 21 to 40 yrs. 24 patients were in the age group of 41 yrs and above. Only 6 cases were in the age group less than 20 yrs. Distribution of type of tumor in the study group showed that 44 (73%) patients had pituitary adenoma, 4 had craniopharyngioma and fungal granuloma respectively and 2 patients had lymphocytic hypophysitis, chordoma, suprasellar epidermoid and sellar meningioma respectively. Out of a total of 44 patients with pituitary adenoma operated, 4 patients developed complications whereas 6 patients developed complications among 16 patients with diagnosis other than pituitary adenoma. The difference was statistically non significant. All patients with hormonally active tumors had raised urine output postoperatively but only 3 of them developed true DI. Conclusion: The most commonly presenting clinical features of tumors of sellar region are neurological followed by visual symptoms. Pituitary adenomas are the most common tumors of the sellar region and among them, prolactinomas are most commonly encountered. Thin slice dedicated MRI of the sellar region is the gold standard investigation for diagnosis of sellar lesions and endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal resection remains to be the surgical treatment of choice wherever possible.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Tumors; Pituitary adenomas; Hormonal symptoms; Craniopharyngioma.